Beyond Gorgeous

Foods to Prevent Hearing Loss #2

Getting older — how we dread it! However, the alternative to growing older– dying young — is not so good either. Don’t despair. There are lots of things we can do to prevent the ills that befall us when we advance in years.

We’ve been talking about one of those ills — hearing loss. Yesterday we discussed the finding that Omega 3s and Vitamin D help prevent age-related hearing loss. Another study found that the B vitamin, folate, is another hearing protector. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that low levels of folate are associated with a 35% higher risk of hearing loss in people 50 and older.

Why does it help? Evidently, it has to do with homocysteine levels. Folate deficiency causes homocysteine levels to increase, which could restrict blood flow to the cochlea. The cochlea is the part of the ear that converts sound into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

So how do you stoke up on folate? It’s found in spinach, black-eyed peas, and other leafy greens and beans.

That seems like an easy and inexpensive fix. Add those vegetables and legumes into your diet on a regular basis and you may be able to keep your ears in working order for years longer.

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